ARC Review: Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria
Pub Date: May 27th

My oh my how I loved this book!! It's the perfect blend of spice, swoon, and humor. I loved just how gone Roman was for Ava but also how well he understood her and knew he couldn't rush her. Ava has quite a bit of character growth to go through and needs to set boundaries with her overwhelming family but she does have a really satisfying arc and Roman does his best to support her without overwhelming her.

One night stand has been one of my favorite tropes for a while and this one really hit everything I love about that trope - I also love the reluctant FMC/down bad MMC so so much - give me 100 please!

The epilogue was a really satisfying conclusion for all three couples - I'll miss this series which I have enjoyed so much! But I also can't wait to see what Alexis does next.

Thank you to Avon for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC of Along Came Amor! I was thrilled to dive back into Alexis Daria’s world of big feelings, big families, and even bigger romantic entanglements.

Ava Rodriguez is newly divorced, emotionally wobbly, and one very strong cocktail away from swearing off men forever—until Roman Vasquez enters stage left, perfectly tailored and utterly irresistible. Their chemistry? Instant. Their rooftop suite rendezvous? Swoon-worthy. Their emotional baggage? Matching sets, of course.

The premise is everything I love in a romance: a high-heat no-strings fling that gets wildly tangled in feelings and family drama. Ava’s journey of rediscovering herself after a life detour is relatable and engaging, and Roman brings some serious “control freak with a soft heart” energy that fans of cinnamon roll heroes will enjoy.

That said, this story had me smiling and sighing—but not always for the right reasons. Ava and Roman have solid chemistry, but their conflict sometimes felt a little too forced or dragged out, like they were spinning their wheels instead of growing. And while Ava’s huge, opinionated family adds vibrant color to the story, they also occasionally overpowered the central romance.

Still, there are steamy scenes to relish, cultural richness that shines, and Daria’s signature wit woven throughout. Along Came Amor delivers a charming blend of heart and heat, even if it doesn’t quite stick the landing.

Perfect for fans of messy-but-fun family drama, passionate flings that turn into forever, and protagonists learning to love themselves as much as their happily-ever-after.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Along Came Amor is the third and final book in Alexis Daria’s Primas of Power series. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend the whole series for the relationship between the titular primas which carries over through the series. And while I wasn’t a fan of the second book like I was the first, this one surprised me, especially given it contains some personally contentious tropes.
Ava is easy to root for as she works to find herself again after a heartbreaking divorce. I liked the gimmick of her taking risks and trying to become the “New Ava,” while also ultimately reconciling this new persona with who she always was. I feel like Roman’s development did get somewhat sidelined by comparison at times, but he’s a swoonworthy love interest in that he always listens and puts her first. While I often dislike the intro between the leads with a one-night stand, their chemistry was truly instant. And again, while the logic of having a fling that in some ways operated like a relationship without the label confused me, especially when he developed feelings first, I’m glad Ava was given space to work through her issues and allow her walls to come down, without the narrative being yet another book where the characters both deny their feelings and claim it’s just a fling, while it’s clearly not.
I also loved how the relationships between the Primas and their partners continued to evolve (even if I didn’t care for the romance in book 2). I also really liked how, even when Ava began to be more honest with herself about her feelings for Roman, she also had to deal with the conflict of admitting this to her cousins, especially with Jasmine’s impending wedding coming up. I liked that this created a unique conflict without needlessly manufacturing relationship drama.
And the book more or less did earn its length. The romantic development isn’t what I’d call a slow-burn, due to the nature of the tropes involved, but there is a gradual build that worked for the amount of words/pages it took to convey the narrative. My one complaint is in the structuring of the epilogue, as while I did like having a nice bow put on the relationship, the successive time skips and multiple vague uses of “Next Year” bothered me, the only time in the narrative that the usage of time skips felt jarring.
Minor quibbles aside, this was a pleasant surprise, and a great final book for a series that was a bit all over the place for me. I’d recommend it to readers looking for a steamy romance with a prominent focus on family and friendship.

I've read all 3 in the Primas of Power series by Alexis Daria, and sadly this was my least favorite. It was fun to be back in that world, but the conflict keeping the couple apart was a bit ridiculous, and mostly just in the head of the FMC. This just made the book drag a bit and I wasn't very invested in the plot. In a romance, you always know you get the HEA, and I just really wasn't that interested in the journey. I will read books by the author again, since I've quite enjoyed the others, but this was not my favorite.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

Alexis Daria continues her Primas of Power series with a complex, strong heroine in Ava. This is a second act romance and readers who are looking for more mature characters who have lived a whole life will rejoice.

That being said, this book didn’t really do it for me. I loved the first two books in the series but this one fell a bit flat. Whether it was a problem with pacing or the main characters chemistry, I’m not really sure. I do think if the tropes are right for you (secret hook ups, no strings/feelings, forced proximity) it could be a winner.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Avon and Harper Voyager, for this ARC.

This was the perfect conclusion to the series. I loved watching Ava settle in with Roman. It was great to see the other characters and how everyone grew. There were plenty of heart ful moments, but plenty of funny moments, too. I loved it.

The absolute best book of this series. The characters are hilarious, poignant and relatable. Daria is one of the best romance authors writing today

Read This Book If…the family in Pride&Prejudice2005 sets you off!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria

Genre: romance
Series: Primas of Power # 3
Spice Level: 4/5🌶, 3-4 explicit scenes
Setting: NYC & Puerto Rico
POV: dual, 3rd person, past tense
Tropes: one night stand, no strings attached, forced proximity, hurt/comfort, he falls first, secret

My Thoughts:
A newly-divorced teacher falls into a no-strings arrangement with a millionaire hotelier…what could go wrong?

NOTHING because this book was fabulous! Ava and Roman’s instant chemistry was hot on the page and the spice was spicing throughout this read, including from the very beginning.

I loved how quickly Roman fell and how he just wanted to treat Ava like a queen. He was so down bad and just wanted to shout about her to the world, especially after they discover their real-life connection.

Ava’s overbearing family, on the other hand, drove me nuts with how they constantly used her and wore her down. But that just made this relationship all the sweeter and I applauded when Ava finally stood up for what she wanted and needed!

This was such a satisfying end to the series. Even those these three cousins are super close, they still keep secrets from each other, which made for very fun shenanigans. I also really enjoyed how their men got closer in this book - yay male friendships!!

If you’re looking for a sweet and spicy series to binge, look no further!

Memorable Quote: “When I went to the bar that night, I was looking for something different. Something new. I decided to trust the Universe…and it let me to you.”

Thank you to the publisher for my advance copy!

So, I was worried about the length of this book—but let me tell you, it delivered. I wanted to get that out of the way in case you're hesitating to pick it up for the same reason. I generally prefer romances around 300 pages, but this one didn’t feel long at all. Since the story spans several months, it earns every page.

Now, on to the story itself. I hope I can express this properly: I love romance—all kinds. I don’t mind if the plot feels familiar or if I can guess how the couple will solve their problems. But this time? It was different. Maybe it’s because I’m Latina and I deeply understood Ava’s predicament. Maybe it’s because I’m a recovering perfectionist. Or maybe it’s because the writing was just that immersive—I found myself thinking the same thoughts Ava was thinking, feeling what she felt. That’s how deeply this story pulled me in.

It’s so well written, I genuinely felt like I *was* the character.

I also really appreciated the cultural details we get throughout the book. Even though I’m Latina and live in Ecuador (that’s between Colombia and Peru 😉), some of the expressions and traditions were completely new to me. It just reminded me of how rich, diverse, and layered our Latin cultures are.

At its heart, this is a love story about two people navigating their own ingrained beliefs, cultural and family expectations, and trying to figure out what they truly want from life—and love.

I haven’t read the previous two books in the series, but now I’m very intrigued.

And the romance? Chef’s kiss. It starts with a one-night stand that turns into a casual arrangement… and if that’s a trope, someone please tell me what it’s called, because I think it might be one of my favorites now.

This book is for you if you like:
- One-night stand turned something more
- He's a Billionaire or Millionair (he's loaded)
- Slow burn with emotional depth
- Latinx rep and cultural exploration
- Characters working through perfectionism and family pressure
- Smart, introspective heroines
- Romance that spans several months
- Realistic emotional growth
- Casual arrangement that turns unexpectedly serious

Thank you Harper Collins/Avon for this ARC

I'm just obsessed with this universe. I'm so sad to see it end! The third and final Primas of Power story is here! Ava is recently divorced, and when it becomes official has a spontaneous one night stand with Roman, who ends up being a millionaire hotelier who owns the hotel she was staying at. She insists it's only one-time, but he wants it to be more. But when they both show up as the maid of honor and best man at their best friend's engagement party, things get messy! What unfolds from there is such a fun and steamy romance!

OMG, Roman was just a gem of a hero. He falls first and is just so head over heels for Ava. He knows he has to rein it in and keep his cool around her, or she will spook easily, but he is so self assured. it's so refreshing to see that. I also liked his protectiveness over the people he loved, like his mom and sister as well as Ashton and his family.

I understood the struggle Ava was facing with her family and the perfectionist/good girl tendencies she faced. The struggle to always do the "right" or "nice" thing is something I struggle with as well, but we learn the nice or right thing doesn't always get your father or make you happier. She has a wonderful story arc about putting herself first and not letting other peoples opinions get the best of her. Together, Roman and Ava are so cute and spicy. I loved their romance so much!

Read if you like a one-night stand, he falls first, romance with an interesting power (read: money) dynamic. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 5/27

A romance book with so much heart. Ava is such a great character. I loved her dynamics with her cousin and her family. I almost DNFed this due to my mood reading, but I’m glad I kept going. It was so good, I’m glad I finished. Roman is such a great book boyfriend. Nice age gap, billionaire romance (which wasn’t flashy) and hidden romance. I could do without all the going back and forth but all in all I enjoyed the book. As a Latina, I really appreciated all the Spanish throughout the book. Very heavy with the Spanish- chefs kiss! 💋

thank you to NetGalley for this ARC

Dual POV
Teacher/Billionaire
ONS


Daria wraps up her Trilogy on the Primas of Power with Ava’s story.
Recently divorced, Old Ava is embracing an opportunity to be New Ava (sometimes Scared Ava) while working to break old habits. While at a teaching conference, Ava meets Roman when he notices she hates the cocktail she ordered. One thing leads to another, and New Ava has an unforgettable evening with Roman.

As the Maid of Honor for her best friend and cousin, things become a bit complicated when the Best Man is announced at their engagement party - Roman. Concerned what her family will think, Ava pretends to not know Roman and not disclose their situationship. …but we all know secrets never last in a big family.

With the bride and groom tide up in Hollywood projects, Ava steps up as usual to over support those around her in order to keep/earn their love. Roman is aware of these patterns and won’t let her take on the burden alone of wedding planning as MOH.

Ava has to learn to love herself, learn from her mistakes, and figure out if she can ever love again. Luckily, Roman is patient and kind.

I didn’t love Ava as a character as much. She was very soft and unsure of herself despite being divorced, an educator, and surrounded by strong confident women. She was too people pleaser for me and didn’t have the character growth I would have loved to see. Roman being the businessman that he is, I wasn’t sure where his patience was coming from always.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read and brings back the other couples and family from previous books.

3 ⭐️
2 🌶️

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for this eARC

I love Alexis Daria and the Primas of Power series. Ava's story may have been my favorite, a wonderful conclusion to a lovely series. Ava was so relatable on many levels, Roman so mature, you wanted them to get the HEA they deserved. Can't wait to see what else this author has in store!

As a fan of the first two Primas of Power books, I found this book to be a letdown. The story dragged and I didn't find the characters sympathetic.

I absolutely adored this book! I’m so sad that the Primas of Power journey has come to an end — I’m going to miss all of these characters so much. This installment might just be my favorite (aside from Michelle’s story, of course). Roman was the perfect book boyfriend, and I loved watching Ava’s journey — how she learned to embrace her true self first with Roman, and eventually with her family and friends as well. I related to Ava in so many ways, which made the story resonate even more deeply with me. Thank you so much to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

Along Came Amor by Alexis Daria

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 2/5 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Along Came Amor is the final book in the Primas of Power series. It was such a good read!

Ava has experienced some heartbreak in her life. She spent her life trying to be perfect and to avoid causing trouble. She always tried to live up to her abuela’s expectations. Suddenly, her husband decides he doesn’t want to be married to her anymore and Ava finds herself facing her family’s disapproval. When she is left without their approval, she decides to stop striving for perfection. Ava decides to spend a night with Roman to embrace her new self. She convinces herself it will be a casual thing, but the more time she spends with Roman, the more difficult it is to walk away. Ava then discovers that Roman is the best man at her cousin’s wedding and she is the maid of honor. Suddenly, her secret is at risk.

Ava and Roman’s chemistry is incredible. Even though there's love, romance, and spice, the story also explores communication, boundaries, and finding oneself. Overall, this is an excellent story with fantastic character development.

When one thinks of romance novels, the exploration of the impact of generational trauma and the theme of self love and acceptance don’t generally come to mind. Yet, in Alexis Daria’s latest novel, Along Came Amor, these themes are front and center as she weaves a steamy, yet gripping tale of the heartbreak following a divorce, the feelings of personal failure that follow, the pressure and familial responsibilities Latinas often face and the importance of self-love and acceptance, with of course an epic romance at the center of the tale. It is a lot of ground to cover in a singular novel, but Daria shines in her ability to convey the weight of which the story’s protagonist, Ava, is crushed by her people-pleasing tendencies and the expectations of her family to be perfect.

Along Came Amor does a wonderful job of bringing the familial dynamics Latinas are all too familiar with alive on the page. From the chismosa relatives who always have something to say about everybody to the expectations and pressures to get married and have children and the way it is culturally ingrained from childhood for Latinas to be helpful and serve others and to always behave. Each and every single one of these characters and scenarios are experiences that most Latinas will be able to recognize and relate to. It’s the offhand remarks from abuela, the chismes from a tia and the brutal teasing from the familia that often cuts the deepest and with the character of Ava, Daria explores just how damaging it can be to internalize all of this behavior.

Boundaries do not exist in Ava’s family, therefore she has zero boundaries with her family. It’s a slippery slope which often results in Ava being taken advantage of as everyone comes to rely on her too much for everything. From babysitting, to helping abuela cook, to trauma dumping their problems onto Ava, Ava is always available to her family, which results in her being unavailable to live a life of her own.

Enter Roman Vázquez, the rich and handsome hotelier Ava meets by chance during a teacher’s conference. A self-made millionaire, Roman has built an empire and is by all accounts a success. However, every aspect of his life is scheduled. From meetings to public dates planned by his publicist, Roman lives and dies by his schedule. Which results in him not really having much time to live at all. Sound familiar?

Upon meeting Roman, Ava decides to give up overthinking for the night and gives in to the idea of having a one night stand with Roman. One night isn’t enough for either of them and what began as a fling, slowly develops into something more. The entire time it is Ava who sets the boundaries of their relationship. A fascinating twist considering how it is Ava who lacks any boundaries in all of her familial relationships. Roman allows Ava the space to state her needs and meets them at her pace. It’s a gift which allows Ava the opportunity to explore who she is and her desires outside of any expectation and pressures set upon her by her family.

Unfortunately Roman turns out to be the best man in her cousin Jasmine’s wedding and Ava’s desire to set boundaries between Roman and her family results in her trying to hide their relationship from her family.

Hiding a relationship is never okay and Daria never excuses Ava’s actions, but rather does a beautiful job of demonstrating why Ava’s fears of inviting family into her relationship are valid to her. Through Ava opening up about past experiences and the offhand comments made by members of her own family, it becomes clear the trauma that Ava holds onto from her past and the impact it could have on her future. Family is the tie that binds but in some cases, that tie can be a noose.

The exploration of the impact family can have on one’s psyche is honestly the most fascinating part of the entire story. Yes, the romance between Ava and Roman is gripping and their steamy love affair is a page turner that will leave readers wanting more. Avid romance readers will be familiar with the fling to love troupe, but the characters in Daria’s tale are written in a way that is refreshing, with their proud Puerto Rican heritage portrayed in earnest ways. While some authors feel like they are checking off a diversity box or perpetuating stereotypes when exploring Latino characters, Daria excels at creating rich, complex characters who are proud of their heritage but who also feel like people you know or can recognize in your own life.

Family dynamics can be complex for anyone, but the novel highlights just how much that applies in family-centric Latino culture. Along Came Amor explores these complexities in a raw and real way through rich characters and deep family bonds where primas are more like sisters and abuelas can be judge, jury and executioner.

Along Came Amor is the third and final book in Daria’s Primas of Power series where each book highlights a different romantic story of a member of the Rodriguez family. It is important to note that though the series covers the love lives of the Rodriguez cousins, each novel serves as a standalone tale. While they say that no one will love you like family and there is much love between the primas of power, it also remains true that no one can hurt you quite like family can.

Alexis Daria has not only won over hearts with this beautiful love story, but broken the chains of family trauma. Readers not only fall in love with Ava and Roman, but join Ava on her journey towards self-love and acceptance. We can’t wait to see what story Alexis Daria elects to tell next.

The final book in the Primas of Power trilogy does not disappoint. Ava has endured her share of heartbreak. Raised by her critical abuela after her parents’ divorce, she spent her life striving for perfection to avoid causing trouble. She always said yes to her family’s demands, trying to live up to her abuela’s expectations. But when her husband decides he no longer wants to be married to her, Ava finds herself slipping from her family’s “favorites list.” Left wondering who she is without their approval, Ava makes a split-second decision: she will no longer try to be “perfect.”

Enter Roman, a millionaire hotelier. One night of unbridled passion with him feels like the first step toward the new Ava. She convinces herself it will stay a casual fling, but the more time Roman spends with her, the harder it is for either of them to walk away. When Ava discovers they are connected in more ways than just a random encounter—Roman is the best man to her cousin’s groom, and Ava is the maid of honor—her carefully guarded secret is suddenly at risk.

Daria is a talented romance writer who beautifully brings Latino characters to life. I appreciated the natural flow of the bilingual dialogue, which felt effortless rather than forced. Childhood traumas and cultural expectations are explored with thoughtfulness and emotional depth, sometimes in ways that are truly heartbreaking.

I will miss the Rodriguez family dearly!

Thank you for the ARC! I loved Ava and Roman, from their meet cute and steamy first night! Daria's writing style and use of language is excellent. I will definitely be reading more of her books! I gave four vs. five simply because some aspects of the book moved slowly for me as a reader.

I've been a fan of this series from the beginning so I was very excited to finally get to this story.

I really liked Ava and Roman. They're both so good and loyal with instant banter and chemistry and I loved reading them connect. Of course it was fun seeing the other couples from the previous books.

Plot wise, it was mostly good. I wanted to shake Ava for not standing up for herself faster, but it was understandable. I loved how Roman got Ava, how he listened and let her move at her own speed. And I loved reading Ava slowly unfold into her true self. The last couple of chapters were perfection and it was a great send off for these ladies.

Overall, this was a fun and feisty series and I look forward to whatever Alexis does next.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**